Long, Shante form bond after Shante biopic

NEW YORK (AP) — Nia Long plays Roxanne Shante’s mother in a new docudrama on the rap pioneer’s life, but when the actress and Shante sit down to chat in real life, their bond reveals itself to be almost sisterly.

They giggle about food and weight. Long gives Shante career advice. And before a camera rolls on an interview, Long asks for a pause, to make sure Shante’s makeup is just right for her close-up.

The two didn’t know each other before the movie started, but Netflix’s “Roxanne, Roxanne” has resulted in a friendship that seems years old.

“We have a relationship outside of Hollywood and hip-hop,” says Shante, sitting close with Long for a talk with The Associated Press. “When we talk, we talk about everything ... kids, husbands, hormones, chocolate, eating, clothes ... red lipstick ...”

“I don’t loan my lipstick to anyone, but I’ll loan it to her,” Long says, as they both laugh.

“I feel like she’s been my sister in my head for a long time,” she continues. “And then you know when I met her, I was I was a little star-struck. ... I’m not going to lie.”

Most people who grew up in the burgeoning days of rap would understand Long’s fandom. Roxanne Shante — real name Lolita Gooden — is considered the first female rapper to make a serious splash in hip-hop, dishing punishing verses with her 1984 debut, “Roxanne’s Revenge,” a clap-back to the then-smash rap hit “Roxanne Roxanne.” With her scratchy voice, Shante — just 14 at the time — dispelled the notion that rapping was for dudes only, and she went on to pave the way for a generation of other groundbreaking female acts, from MC Lyte to Salt-N-Pepa to Queen Latifah. Even Nas, who grew up in the same Queens, New York, housing projects as Shante, credits her as an inspiration.

“You are a pioneer, you are a trailblazer, you set the standard for women to battle rap and have a seat at the table,” Long tells Shante during the interview.

But Shante didn’t have the kind of hits or longevity of those acts. Instead, as “Roxanne, Roxanne” depicts, she faced plenty of adversity that hindered her growth as an artist.

Long pays the pivotal role of Shante’s mother, Miss Peggy — a struggling single mother of four daughters who had a drinking problem and a fractious relationship with her daughter. Long calls it one of the best roles of her career.